68 



occurring also in that stage in May, June, and July. It has been 

 seen to lay eggs July 1; occurs in the larval stage certainly from 

 June 11 to July 21; has pupated by July 24:; and has emerged as 

 an adult from August 11 to October 5. 



Bohushis has also been seen abroad as an imago in early^ 

 spring. Larvae of various ages and pupae were collected in South 

 Carolina August 20, aud a single adult emerged a few days later. 



We have obtained the imagos of S. oclirens in May, June, and 

 July, and have found them living as late as August 1. The sexes 

 pair certainly by the 20th of June, and eggs have been laid on 

 the 30th of Jul}^ full-sized larvae and others partly grown also 

 occurring at that time. 



In nature this species breeds in the large dense root-bulbs of 

 the common club rush, Scivpus fluviafilis, — a coarse grass-like plant 

 extremely abundant in the lowest marshy prairies. AVhether pu- 

 pation occurs in the cavity of the bulb or in the earth adjacent 

 is not yet certain, although the fact that a dead beetle was found 

 by us within a larval burrow where it had evidently perished after 

 transforming, is evidence that the larva does not desert the bulb 

 before pupation. 



Elaborate experiments made at the office and on the University 

 farm, failed to show^ that this beetle could breed in corn. Hills 

 of corn with which imagos had for several weeks been enclosed 

 and upon which they fed with the greatest freedom, were not in- 

 fested by the larva3 of this species, neither could eggs be found 

 about or upon them, although the beetles were pairing w^hen im- 

 prisoned. 



Pcriinaoc has been found abroad as an imago in early spring, 

 making its attack upon the young corn. It was bred by Dr. Kel- 

 licott,* as I am informed by a recent letter from him, in July and 

 August of three successive years ( 1880-1882 ).t In our own col- 

 lections the imago of tiiis species has been taken only in July. 



The above are the oidy species whose immature stages have 

 been observed, but dates of occurrence and time of attack of the 

 imagos of other species of the genus indicate for them very sim- 

 ilar, if not identical, life histories. CdrioHiinX has been collected 

 by us from June 4 to July 1, and again September 16. Smlptilis 

 has likewise occurred in June, July, and Septen)ber. Scoparius 

 we have found on corn and grass from June 16 to July 7; and 

 plucidus from May 20 to August 5, the latter date from northern 

 Illinois. 



♦CoTicerninp tlil? pneclps, Dr. Kelllcott writes me: "It is nbnndant at Buffalo. The larva cuta 

 an obli(jim burrow in tlio bane of tho plant and piipiitee in tlie same. 



tl)r. Kfllicolt ulco InforniH me that lie bred rout f //en /i in in July 1881, from the club rutih, Scir/riis 

 laiUHtr'iB. 



X Since iib()v»i wuh written we have n'|)oatodIy bred ranosnx from oggH deposited in perfoiu 

 tlonH made in tlic lower purl of a common ncd^o, Vijih i uh glri'joKux. 



